Mini Reviews: Bonfire, The Cost of Living, The Nowhere Girls, Together

Looking for some new reads to enjoy as the nights draw in? I’ve got four mini reviews of 2017 releases lined up for you today. Whether you’re looking for a rip-roaring thriller, a decade-spanning romance or a cosy murder mystery, keep reading to discover your next read.

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

Facts and figures

What did I think?

Now I was very pleasantly surprised by Bonfire! It took me a while to get into but once I’d got past the first fifty pages I was hooked. I raced through this and the shocks kept coming right until the final pages. I genuinely had no idea how the story was going to resolve itself but, boy, what a resolution! Well worth a read, particularly if you’re a fan of thrillers and love trying to get to the bottom of a well-crafted mystery.

Facts and figures

What did I think?

I just loved the cosiness of this one! The perfect book to enjoy in this chilly weather, The Cost of Living is a sometimes sweet, sometimes sharp whodunnit set in and around a local supermarket. Give it a go – I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed

Facts and figures

What did I think?

Books centred about rape culture are never easy to read, which is the point. They should make us uncomfortable, they should be challenging. They should make us think and make us angry that this isn’t just fiction, this is what happens in the real world time and time again.

I knew The Nowhere Girls would grip me purely based on the summary, I just hoped the writing stood up alongside the story. It did. It took me a few chapters to become drawn in but once I got used to the narrative style I finished the book the same day.

A trio of engaging protagonists, Grace, Erin and Rosina, are supported by a fourth narrator, ‘Us’, girls who share their stories as the book goes on. These ‘Us’ snippets are some of my favourite parts of the book and, while heartbreaking at times, explore important issues.

And then there’s the ending, which I won’t delve into, but that final page… tears were shed!

Together by Julie Cohen

Facts and figures

What did I think?

I’m not usually a romance fan but the marketing campaign for Together piqued my interest (a sealed letter at the back of the proof with strict instructions to only open when told to!) so I decided to take a punt on it.

I’m a bit torn about this one. Emily was a lovely protagonist and I warmed to her instantly. Plus, some of the passages in the book are so beautifully written I reread them a few times just to enjoy the way the words flowed. There’s an interesting mystery woven into the first pages of the book and I was intrigued to discover more about Emily and Robbie’s history. Unfortunately I figured things out pretty early on and spent the majority of the book in a cycle of ‘no…I can’t be right…’. But yes, apparently I was.

The jury’s out on this one. Maybe you’ll love it if you’re a romance fan? The majority of reviews are glowing.